Key takeaways
- The primary North American version of World of Espresso will happen from 10 to 12 April 2026 in San Diego, California.
- The US’ specialty espresso consumption hit a 14-year excessive in 2025, making it one of many world’s key espresso markets.
- WoC San Diego will host the 2026 World Latte Artwork Championships.
- Attendees may take part in a variety of afterparties and occasions, and expertise the town’s established specialty espresso scene.
After three many years, North America’s Specialty Espresso Expo joins different SCA commerce exhibits by rebranding as World of Espresso. The primary version will happen in San Diego from 10 to 12 April 2026.
WoC San Diego will host the 2026 World Latte Artwork Championships, Roasters Village, Greatest New Product Competitors, Espresso Design Awards, lectures, workshops, cuppings, and extra.
Exhibitors, corresponding to Ecotact, Excellent Moose, OutIn, and extra, can even organise their very own occasions and afterparties.
Attendees can even have the chance to go to among the metropolis’s greatest specialty espresso retailers and roasters.
Try the PDG Occasions Calendar right here. We are going to proceed to replace the article as extra occasions and afterparties are introduced.
Competitions and awards at WoC San Diego
WoC San Diego might be held on the San Diego Conference Heart within the Marina district, close to the Gaslamp Quarter.
The occasion will function the 2026 World Latte Artwork Championships, the place worldwide baristas will showcase their abilities and creativity to pour extremely advanced latte artwork designs.
As with earlier Expos, WoC San Diego can even embody the Espresso Design Awards and the Greatest New Product competitors.
Why North America is crucial for espresso occasions
North America is among the world’s most essential markets for espresso consumption. The Nationwide Espresso Affiliation’s Fall 2025 NCDT Report discovered that apart from bottled water, espresso is America’s favorite beverage. Specialty espresso consumption additionally hit a file excessive within the US final 12 months, with 48% of US adults ingesting it up to now day.
“North America, notably the US, is a key marketplace for the worldwide espresso trade for 2 main causes: value affect and consumption scale, each of which proceed to form new international developments within the specialty espresso commerce,” says Hanuman Jain, the CEO of Ecotact, which can exhibit at sales space 3723.
“It’s one of many largest coffee-consuming markets on the earth, with monumental demand from main roasters, retailers, and specialty espresso corporations,” he provides. “Subsequently, occasions listed here are important for us; they supply a helpful platform to showcase our sustainable, revolutionary options whereas advocating for round financial system practices that profit your complete provide chain.”
World of Espresso North America (previously generally known as Expo) is the biggest B2B specialty espresso commerce present in North America.
“The North American espresso scene strikes extremely quick, and cafés are continuously pushing for higher workflows, larger consistency, and nice buyer experiences,” says Jan Adriaens, the founding father of Excellent Moose, which can exhibit at sales space 1549.
“WoC is the best place to point out how automation can help baristas as a substitute of changing them,” he provides. “It’s additionally the place we get trustworthy suggestions from the folks behind the bar, and that’s what retains us evolving.”
The occasion attracts 1000’s of tourists yearly, bringing collectively roasters, baristas, producers, exporters, importers, gear producers, and extra.
“For us, it’s greater than a commerce present. It’s an opportunity to attach immediately with a core viewers that values high quality, mobility, and an expert espresso expertise,” says Ariana Wang, the World Advertising Supervisor at OutIn, which can exhibit at sales space 4027 and host a pop-up house at LP6.
“By taking part in WoC, we strengthen our international model presence, change insights with trade pioneers, and showcase our moveable espresso options to key companions.”
Greater than 670 exhibitors might be current on the occasion, making WoC San Diego one of many 12 months’s most essential occasions.
“Our job is knowing espresso roasters, and WoC places us in the identical room as 1000’s of them,” says Mark Zhou, the founding father of MTPak Espresso, which can exhibit at sales space 3916. “Strolling a present flooring, you choose up on what roasters are genuinely enthusiastic about and what issues they’re attempting to resolve.
“Espresso strikes quick. What was thought of a premium unboxing expertise two years in the past now appears peculiar. Exhibits like WoC are the place you see what’s subsequent in packaging earlier than it turns into normal.”
Afterparties & actions
Quite a few corporations and organisations will host their very own actions and occasions throughout WoC San Diego:
Wednesday 8 April
Thursday 9 April
“As a pre-event catch-up forward of WoC, we’re internet hosting an RSVP dinner at Royal India restaurant for Ecotacters, companions, and shut mates of the model,” says Hanuman.
“We stay up for a night of genuine Indian flavours and significant conversations, bringing collectively individuals who have been a part of our journey and people becoming a member of us as we proceed to develop.”
Friday 10 April
“We’re retaining issues a bit extra casual this 12 months, however WoC San Diego is all the time an incredible alternative to spend time with our North American distributors and companions who assist deliver Excellent Moose to cafés throughout the US and Canada,” says Jan.
“We’ll be assembly with them all through the occasion to share concepts, speak in regards to the market and strengthen these relationships.”
Saturday 11 April
“We invite everybody to affix our devoted pop-up house and interactive CUPO actions all through the occasion days, the place we give attention to neighborhood, connection, and occasional experiences,” Ariana says.
“Contributors will expertise an entire, skilled espresso workflow utilizing OutIn’s private espresso stations. The occasion can even function visitor judges and trade professionals collaborating and scoring alongside contributors.”
Sunday 12 April
This listing might be up to date as extra events are introduced. Please be aware that some occasions are invite or RSVP solely.
San Diego espresso store tour
Famend for its gorgeous Pacific shoreline and sights such because the San Diego Zoo and Balboa Park, the town additionally options historic websites, together with the Gaslamp Quarter and Outdated City.
San Diego additionally has a world-class craft beer scene and among the US’ greatest specialty espresso retailers and roasters. Charlie, the Chief of Employees at Goldchild Espresso, recommends:
Different notable espresso retailers embody:
- Goldchild Espresso – award-winning roaster based by 2025 American AeroPress Champion Jeff Rambo and Mariela Mosquera, recognized for its hip-hop-influenced type and Swedish Fika bakery programme
- Sur Espresso, opened in 2015
- Unison Espresso, which hosts a pop-up four-course omakase-style expertise inside Pizza Kaiju in Barrio Logan
- Hen Rock Espresso Roasters – Roaster of the Yr and Good Meals Award winner
- Genteel Espresso Roasters, which sources espresso from a variety of origins, together with Thailand
- James Espresso Co., providing housemade pastries baked on-site
- Selva Espresso Home, situated inside a plant nursery
- Darkish Horse Espresso Roasters, based in 2013
- Flor and Seed Espresso Roasters, which focuses on Mexican coffees
- Girls-owned and community-focused S3 Espresso Bar
- Talitha Espresso, which helps survivors of intercourse trafficking
- Communal Espresso, which operates a number of places
- Lofty Espresso, which additionally runs a bakery
- Jaunt Espresso Roasters, which serves meals and baked items
- Queer and women-owned Mnemonic Espresso
- Mexican-influenced Por Vida!
- Latinx-owned Provecho! Espresso Co., which specialises in importing Mexican coffees
- Lengthy Play HiFi, situated inside a file retailer
- Nomade, a file retailer and tapas bar
- Fuzz Espresso, which doubles as a file retailer
- Little Whereas, with an in-house pastry programme
- Excelsa Espresso Firm, which solely sources Excelsa, a climate-resilient espresso species primarily grown in Southeast Asia and components of Africa
- Award-winning Torque Espresso, which makes use of its Proportional Pricing system, guaranteeing 20% of the retail value goes immediately again to producers
The place to eat & drink in San Diego
San Diego’s meals scene is vibrant, providing Baja-Med delicacies, world-class Mexican road meals, and contemporary Pacific seafood.
Charlie recommends Cowboy Star for top-of-the-line steakhouse experiences within the metropolis and Ciccia Osteria for distinctive, thoughful Italian meals.
The World’s 50 Greatest recommends these bars and eating places:
- Addison
- Kindred
- Noble Experiment
- Well mannered Provisions
- Raised by Wolves
- Youngblood
Eating places on San Diego Journal’s 9 Should-Attempt Meals embody:
- Books & Information
- Puesto
- Piacere Mio
- Lucien
- Le Coq
- LuckyBolt Kitchen + Bakery
- La Corriente
- Vinum Locus
- Mirin Café
What can we anticipate at WoC San Diego?
World of Espresso occasions are among the most influential and impactful B2B commerce exhibits within the international espresso sector.
“You’ll be able to all the time anticipate new improvements, from experimental developments like co-fermented coffees to shifts in how espresso is traded and transported,” Hanuman says. “Ecotact will launch the Ship Protect Airtight Bulk Liner, designed to help bulk logistics throughout long-haul transit.
“We’re additionally launching our new monitoring machine, Hint IQ, a digital logging resolution designed to watch and safeguard high-value espresso throughout storage and transit,” he provides. “Earlier this 12 months, we launched Pour Lock, a design-forward extension of our sampler bag vary, which we are going to showcase, in addition to our Fermentation Package, which offers farmers with a easy, dependable and field-tested technique to conduct anaerobic fermentation.
“We’re additionally offering a gathering room in our sales space for personal periods, which you’ll prebook right here.”
The final North American version, held in Houston, Texas and branded as Expo, introduced collectively 1000’s of espresso professionals from over 89 international locations.
“At WoC San Diego, guests can expertise the Excellent Moose in motion and see how automated milk steaming can deliver pace, precision, and consistency to café service,” Jan says. “However extra importantly, we’re there to hear. Excellent Moose was initially constructed to resolve an actual barista drawback, and that philosophy hasn’t modified.
“Occasions like WoC are the place we collect extra suggestions from café house owners, baristas, and companions within the North American market,” he provides. “These conversations usually form what the subsequent era of Moose innovation appears like.”
Given the size and affect of WoC, many manufacturers try to create memorable experiences at their cubicles, participating with guests in new methods to construct lasting connections.
“OutIn’s pop-up embodies this shift with a digital nomad, tropical-island, and tenting resort aesthetic, providing a relaxed, vacation-like environment that stands out on the present,” Ariana says. “This distinctive setup not solely creates a memorable expertise but in addition highlights the core of our merchandise: moveable, versatile, and designed for all times on the transfer.
“We’ll additionally showcase our LattoGo two-tone milk frother, which aligns completely with the spirit of the World Latte Artwork Championship and serves because the official designated gear for the Neighborhood Lounge.”
The North American espresso market is among the most dynamic on the earth, usually setting developments that affect different international espresso sectors.
“The MTPak Espresso group is happy to showcase our fully-customisable packaging options,” Mark says. “Anticipate to see cutting-edge designs and the most recent improvements in sustainable supplies, and we’ll be available to information guests by our full vary of companies.”
WoC San Diego is among the most essential occasions within the espresso trade this 12 months. Alongside the commerce present, competitions, and afterparties, attendees will be capable of expertise the town’s vibrant specialty espresso scene.
If you’re taking part in any capability, ensure to register and e book any actions prematurely of your attendance.
To be taught extra about WoC San Diego, go to the web site.
Picture credit: Specialty Espresso Affiliation
Excellent Every day Grind
Please be aware: Ecotact, Excellent Moose, and OutIn are sponsors of Excellent Every day Grind.
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